Street closings set during Toledo fireworks gala

7/2/2012

Several downtown Toledo streets and the Martin Luther King, Jr., Bridge will be closed for varying times Wednesday to manage boat, vehicular, and pedestrian traffic during two fireworks displays and the Toledo Mud Hens game.

As is normal on baseball days, St. Clair Street will close at 3 p.m. between Monroe and Washington streets, and Monroe will close about 9 p.m. between St. Clair and Huron streets to set up the Fifth Third Field fireworks show planned after the ballgame's conclusion.

Ottawa Street will close to vehicles between Washington and Broadway at 8 p.m., and an hour later, the King bridge and Summit Street between Washington and Cherry streets will close to vehicles. Eastbound traffic on Jackson and Adams streets and Jefferson Avenue will be detoured at St. Clair once Summit is closed.

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On the Maumee River, an extended no-wake zone will be established between the I-280 Veterans' Glass City Skyway and the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge near the grain terminals.

Marine traffic will be prohibited in a zone marked by buoys for the fireworks-shooting platform near the Col. James M. Schoonmaker museum ship at International Park and in the designated channel off downtown Toledo, which is reserved for emergency marine traffic.

The main Red, White, and Kaboom! fireworks show will start at dusk, about 10:10 p.m. The start of the Mud Hens' fireworks will depend on when the game ends, but not before about 10 p.m.

After the main fireworks show's conclusion, the King bridge will open for marine traffic once pedestrians have cleared from it. After boat traffic passes through the bridge, it will reopen to vehicles.

Summit and connecting streets will reopen to all traffic once fireworks-related traffic has cleared the area.

Motorists parked in the High Tower and Edison garages on Summit should expect to be held in those garages until about 11 p.m., when other traffic already on Summit is expected to have cleared.

Traffic signals at certain downtown intersections will be placed in flashing mode to give departing traffic priority, as directed by police.

Officials urged fireworks spectators to park on the side of downtown closest to their post-fireworks destinations, so traffic trying to traverse the downtown area will be minimal, and to avoid blocking intersections when traffic ahead is slowing or stopped.

July Fourth celebrations elsewhere include:

Bowling Green: A concert Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. by the Bowling Green Community Band in Doyt Perry Stadium will be followed by fireworks at dusk at the Bowling Green State University Intramural Fields. Fireworks rain date is Wednesday.

Findlay: Entertainment and fireworks will be on Tuesday at the Hancock County Fairgrounds, 1017 E. Sandusky St., with gates opening at 4 p.m. Gospel singing at 5 p.m., food vendors, rock band at 7 p.m., and fireworks at 10 p.m. Rain date for fireworks is Wednesday.

Fremont: The firing of Civil War cannons is to punctuate a patriotic concert by the Toledo Symphony Concert Band as the Hayes Presidential Center celebrates the Fourth of July with an outdoor Independence Day Concert Wednesday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Admission to the concert is free.

Maumee: Food and entertainment Tuesday starting at 5 p.m. at East Wayne and Conant streets. Fireworks will be visible from the Maumee-Perrysburg bridge beginning at 10 p.m. Rain date for fireworks only is Wednesday. Perrysburg and Maumee share a fireworks display from the Maumee-Perrysburg Bridge.

Monroe: As part of the 15th annual River Raisin Independence Festival and Fireworks, fireworks are set for Tuesday at 9:45 p.m. at Sterling State Park.

Perrysburg: The Star Spangled Banner Celebration will begin Tuesday at 4 p.m. with activities and rides at Fort Meigs. Fireworks will be visible from the Maumee-Perrysburg bridge beginning at 10 p.m. Rain date for fireworks only is Wednesday. A national salute and drum music will be at Fort Meigs Wednesday at 2 p.m. That day's celebration runs from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $5 for students. Free for children younger than 5.

Port Clinton: Fireworks will be Wednesday at dusk in Water Works Park.

Sylvania: The Star Spangled Celebration is Tuesday at Centennial Terrace, 5773 Centennial Rd. The event, from 7 p.m. to midnight, will feature live music, dancing, clowns, children's activities, and refreshments, with fireworks starting at 10. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. Parking at Centennial Terrace is $5 a car. For information, call 419-882-1500. The rain date is Wednesday.

Wauseon: Fireworks show Wednesday at dusk concludes celebratory events and activities at Dorothy Biddle Park, beginning at 5:30 p.m.